Tears as family buries AAU student killed by suspected herdsmen

Alexander Okere, Benin

AN 18-year-old student of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Collins Ojeriakhi, who was killed by a gang of armed men, suspected to be herdsmen in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, has been buried.

This was as the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said that one person had been arrested in connection with the killing.

Kokumo also stated that investigation was ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the killer gang.

Ojeriakhi and two other persons, including a minor, had been reportedly shot dead by the armed men in Ugboha on March 16.

Several other people were also said to have been injured during the attack.

 The late Ojeriakhi, a first year student of Banking and Finance at the AAU, was said to be on his way from Uromi on a motorcycle when the assailants opened fire on him.

It was learnt that the youngest of the victims was returning from Lagos along with his mother and sibling on a motorcycle when he was shot.

 It was also learnt that he later died in his mother’s arms after efforts to save his life proved abortive.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, who condemned the killings, had also ordered the arrest of the culprits within seven days.

However, family members and sympathisers wept as the body of the late undergraduate was interred in his father’s compound located in Oyomon Quarters, Ineme-Ugboha, at about 5pm on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the burial was witnessed by some security agents, members of the Students’ Union Government from AAU and classmates of the deceased.

The father of the deceased, Mr. Festus Ojeriakhi, described his late son as a hardworking and peace-loving person who would be missed by his relatives and friends.

Ojeriakhi stated, “The boy (Collins) used the motorcycle to carry cassava for me from the farm four times in a day. He was very cool-headed, quiet and did not cause trouble.

“It is too unfortunate and I miss him. I have even started clearing my farm, hoping that he would come home after his first semester to help me.

“It was because of him that I tried to extend my farm. He was still growing with a lot of stamina and he loved school and farming. We used to farm together before I lost him.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Kokumo, said the suspect arrested in connection with the killings was still being profiled and he would be charged to court soon.

 Kokumo added, “We have arrested one person and the person will appear in court. We are investigating, profiling him. We want to ensure that we are able to lay hands on other members of the gang.”

 

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